The end of summer always gives me that "summertime sadness", the feeling of warm days of laughter and outdoor music drawing to a close, the last moments of a fabulous party. I try to keep reminding myself that September is a beautiful month and that there's still time for one more road trip, one more sacred space for feeling like a founding member of a rock band crossing the country in a tour bus. Christy captured that feeling - with a slightly grungy, 90's vibe - in a 'shoot we dubbed Generation KO. It's a great one to draw on for style in these bittersweet, hedonistic days. I've re-envisioned it with a bit more of a 70's vibe, but I love Christy's take on it, so we'll explore that too. The main differences in the looks involve color and simple element choices. The basic premise involves a graphic tee and denim skirt. Note on the tee: Christy left hers all hung out and that works fabulously; other options are the casual half-tuck, or knotting it. If you're feeling the 70's thing, and loving the dry, desert-heat vibe, reflect that with your colors: blue denim (faded, distressed and worn are all encouraged; stay away from whiter, brighter, 80's-feeling acid-wash pieces), deep red (tan, mustard and olive are flawless alternatives) and caramel shoes. Stay summery with gladiators or chunky-strapped wedge sandals, or go for a more transitional look with ankle boots that reflect the American West. I love the idea of adding a touch of hot-rn fringe to the on-trend denim skirt to enhance the vibe and add a touch more dimension. Besides, fringe is fun ;). If vests aren't your thing, consider a fringed purse as another possibility. If you'd rather do it Christy's way, go for cooler shades: gray, black, taupe or dusty blue with a faded black denim skirt (*this could be done with black denim shorts, too!). I happened upon this fun Eagle tee at shopbop.com which would work nicely, but any broken-in, edgy graphic you have will do: band tees, tees with attitudinal witticisms, whimsical pics, even a plain, solid tee with a bit of wear or distressing (don't hesitate to grab a cheap one and DIY some rips and tears) will do nicely. Christy finished hers with OTKs, which rocked hard! I'm a huge fan of the ankle boot look for this combo as well, especially at this time in the season. Swap out the fringe vest for a plaid tee (ps def consider adding a spiked, antiqued or hematite pendant, or a leather choker :)) and bam! - that 90's-rocker-playing-massive-festival vibe is yours to enjoy while your fame lasts ;) Hope this inspires you to rock the last sets of summer, loves!

I've been loving the look of mesh and open weaves lately and Natalya seems to be doing the same in this recent candid. She layered an open-weave black sweater over a black tank and paired it with skinny jeans for a monochrome look that had tons of visual interest due to the mix of varying textures. Mesh made it's presence felt with the strong athletic trend that's been storming fashion lately, but that's not the only trick mesh knows. It can be styled a variety of ways, with very different vibes! First, let's talk about that athletic thing tho ;). A mesh or open weave tee has a sexy, athletic feel when layered over a bralette. The idea is looking gym-ready, without the actual gym time :). We're into seriously casual territory here, so plan to pair it with easygoing shorts (frayed edges and/or distressing is encouraged!). Also, the mesh shows plenty of skin, so don't go too minimal on length, even if it is 97 degrees and feeling like 125 due to humidity. Keep it classy, say in the 5" range or the vibe will be a lot more than athletic ;). Sneakers complete the sporty look perfectly. If you're feeling the casual look but the whole bralette thing is a bit much, go for laid-back cool-girl instead. Layer said mesh tee (or an open-weave sweater) over a black camisole. Stay with something that's mostly solid...but if there's lace, scallops or similar detailing, go right on ahead and have fun with the extra illusion they create! Match that combo up with black denim or chino shorts and then throw out some attitude by finishing the look with black ankle booties. It's a fab way to welcome in transitional pieces that look toward autumn. Oh Gaga..autumn. It can't be. Just...no. Right, let's look at a way to forget that I brought up that whole ....starts with 'a' , ends with 'umn' thing ...and consider a chic way to do mesh: instead of a layer, consider using a piece with mesh already integrated into the design (alternatively, try a sheer blouse over a pretty underlayer). There are a number of pieces around lately which incorporate mesh in color-block-like sections, or combined with lace or as an illusion panel. The smaller, more delicate mesh of these types of pieces lends them to more refined pairings, such as chino shorts. Or, you can go really wild and choose taffeta or silk ;). Finish this seductively sophisticated look with lace-up sandals or ballet flatsI love the open weave of this piece, the bold style of this, the peasant vibe of this and the laid-back chic of this or this. In addition to the piece I've called out, definitely check out Guess's offerings, as they've strongly embraced the mesh trend rn. Happy styling!Edit: couple other cool pieces: Look 1, Look 3, Look 3, Look 3

Paris is known by many names: The City of Light, The City of Love..and, most appropriately for our purposes, a city of FASHION! Maria took a lengthy holiday there, along with husband Mike Bennett, and kindly catalogued her daily wardrobe for us, giving us a primer not merely on style, but on how to pack for an extended adventure! Are you reaaddaaaaay? Fabulous, darling. Then, buckle up..and be sure to have some champagne at hand ;); we have a plethora of Parisian fashion to explore.Maria’s first Parisian look is a classic black dress, but in what looks to be the oh-so-trendy shirt-dress style. I love how easy and comfortable this silhouette is! It’s a casual dress that takes no time at all to throw on and look fab in, but which is also polished and can be elevated with the right accessories. Her cranberry lips add a touch of trend-goth, while her red animal-face purse creates a hint of whimsy which makes me smile; it’s so cute and fun! Chunky-strap black sandals complete the look. You could also finish this with (easy-to-pack!) ballet flats or loafers as well.Day 2’s look is a dramatic rendition of a high-low tee paired with high-waisted blue denim, which Maria emphasizes via a half-tuck. I’ve always loved the classic pairing of a white tee with blue jeans, and the silhouette of this tee gives some extra va-voom and interest to this iconic combo. Maria finishes the look with a hint of metallic: on-trend, 90’s referencing Birkenstocks, which are totally hot right now but which, I must confess, make me cringe :). To prevent you from having to read multiple accounts of my cringing, I refrain from mentioning it further, but you’re free to envision me curling up in a twitching, crinkle-faced ball every time I have to type the word “Birkenstocks”. I may just resort to calling them “those” :) If you happen to be sitting beside me on the #NeverBirkies wagon, consider loafers (do it Maria’s way and choose metallic; they would work with the shirt dress above just as well as black #PackingConsiderations). Sneakers would make a comfy-for-exploring-in option.Maria’s next look is a lighthearted combination of playfulness and glam. She paired a boxy white cat-face graphic tee with a blush peach pailette skirt (or possibly dress?). Something about the unexpectedness of this pairing makes it feel more Parisian in spirit than her previous two outfits. That’s accentuated by the white, black and blush palette ..and the multi-layered pearl necklace ;) There’s always something deeply chic and connected to the heart’s blood of fashion about pearls! White platform pumps round off this fancy ensemble.Day 4 brings us a complete about-face: an athleisure-inspired black-on-black outfit, consisting of a classy tank and leather-look leggings. Underarmour flat slides enhance the sporty vibe..but they give me the same vibe as “those” shoes. I’d be tempted to finish this look with loafers (seeing a pattern here? ;)), sneakers or pointy-toe pumps. I could even go for the camel flats Maria debuts in her next look. I’m a massive fan of her super-high bun! I LOVE how it adds interest, refinement and edge to this laid-back pairing.Maria’s next outfit is unquestionably my #1, top, ultimate favorite of all her ensembles! This black-and-white photo crop top paired with a striped A-line skirt is something I would wear in a heartbeat! I’m thrilled by the touch of red from the scarf tied at her waist, which is echoed by her cherry lip shade. It brings a blast of fire to the clean, crisp black+white. Her camel pumps add a further touch of warmth. The whole impression created here is of a cataclysm of classic chic with modernity and it is everything.From there, she moves on to a boldly printed plum and white mini dress. She defines the waist of this shift and creates a blouson silhouette by adding a wide belt. I love how the use of a single accessory can completely alter the look of a piece! In this case, it takes the vibe from 60’s to 80’s. I second her choice of camel pumps for this outfit; they mirror the bold polish of the rest of the look and illustrate the right way to utilize the ultra-limited choices required by travel.

The Lady Superstars (Divas ;)…sorry, but we are diva-fierce, ya know!...were definitely on their fashion game this year! It was tough to pick three…so tough, in fact, that it was necessary to name an Honorable Mention. Having gone through the excruciating process of narrowing it down to three (ok, four :)) top contenders, it was even harder to figure out the placement. But, it has been done. The fait is accompli. So, without further stress or ado, behold:

In the spirit of the Olympics, we have our own gold, silver and bronze to award J. Ours goes to the ladies’ who rocked our lives every time they appeared on our screen, the ones who slayed all day (and all night!) in their fabulous, glorious, so-good–they-couldn’t-help-but-get-us in-ring ensembles. Welcome to the return of Diva-Fierce.com’s Ring Gear Awards!We’re kicking things off with the Knockouts. It’s taken some concerted efforts to get hold of KO’s pics this year, as things have been getting switched up in the company, but we’re pleased to say we’ve managed it. (Shoutout to all the ladies who have posted IG pics - thank you!) And we have some amazing looks to acknowledge and show mad respect to! And drool over…there’s definitely some drooling happening here. Whose looks made our jaws drop?

The Bellas and Cathy Kelley attended the Teen Choice Awards at the end of July. Oh MY how I love Cathy's dress! Because...yellow!..duh :) In addition tot he fabulous color - which makes the entire statement of this look, the dress has a gorgeous, simple silhouette that's as classic as it gets! This is definitely my kind of piece :) Cathy accessorized with silver metallic sandals and a slim choker, which is spot on trend. I love the pairing of yellow with silver: the cool-meets-warm combo is stunning, without the busy-bee syndrome that can sometimes happen with yellow and black. Cathy's style has been quite impressive thus far!The Bellas each graced us with two outfits for the occasion: one as presenters and one as awardees :). Brie's presenter look was an embroidered gown by Jonathan Simkhai (ID by fashionofthedivas.tumblr), which she borrowed from Nikki's closet ;) (Isn't it fab to have a stylish sister? :)) She did the same with her awardee outfit, a white lace dress from Self Portrait. We saw Nikki in that magnificent floaty piece during her trip to Cannes, paired with touches of black and red. Brie kept things lighter with nude pumps and a beautiful twisted-hairband hairstyle. Nikki wore a cobalt pantsuit in cady by David Koma for her presenting outfit. It featured a hot and trendy touch of metal at the neckline. She tends to gravitate toward red, white and black, but I really enjoy seeing her in other strong, vibrant colors like this! I'm imagining this piece finished with mirrored metallic sandals :). Nikki went with a second pantsuit for receiving her award, a textured ivory lace piece from contemporary brand Cushnie et Ochs (pron "coosh-knee et (as in "bet") oaks"). I love the halter styling and dimension of this piece; the velvet is so luxurious! We only get a hint of her shoes, but platform sandals here would be a flawless way to complete the 70's vibe.

Basically from the moment I saw both of these looks, my little mind started whirring away, trying to figure out how to recreate them. Brie and Maryse play on a similar these here: simple black dress, major statement-making baubletry. (Note: also can be done with a simple black cami+pants). Brie's look, in which the metal plates are actually built into the dress gets its je ne se quoi from the smooth, next-gen vibe of the unembellished metal. I actually think hers is the easier look to recreate though. My basic evil plan is to use a plate collar or choker necklace and a matching plate belt. the widths of the two items can be different, but the metal color should be essentially the same. ASOS has a fairly awesome selection of metal belts that make a great starting point for doing this look. Missguided has an economical metal choker in gold (as does BaubleBar at a slightly higher price point. Lele Sadoughi offers an heirloom piece) while ASOS carries the same piece in silver. This look could also be done with metallic leather, though the duller finish with cut the impact slightly. And now, Maryse :). There are very few body chains with this kind of layered drama out and about in the world atm, especially since DeMode does not have its online store open just yet (it's coming!). The best approximation seems to be this one from bebe (note: they have a nice metal plate collar with a circle drop on it on sale as well), unless you want to go the Etsy route (e.g. something like﻿﻿this﻿﻿. Don't forget to check shipping and return costs for items made outside the U.S.). If you can be happy foregoing the actual body chain, the main vibe of the look can be re-created similarly to Brie's: by pairing a statement crystal necklace and a crystal belt. Crystal necklace are to be had pretty much everywhere, from Forever 21 to Saks, and in every price range. Belts are a tad trickier and depend to a certain extent on the look you're going for. BCBG has a couple that work here. I also love this one, and this one on sale at Guess x Marciano. Check out the other belts there, as well, because there are a couple others that could definitely work. If you're up for a bit of fun (and a bit higher expenditure), check out BB Simon ( I love this piece!). I just recently bumped into this artist and oh my! - it is statement belt heaven :). So, one of these now has an official spot on my wish list :). You can get a similar look at a lower price point to you look for a crystal belt from companies that design for Western horse shows, such as this one. You might need to go with crystal on a black background, but since the plan is set it against an all-black outfit, that black leather will mostly disappear. If it feels too cowgirl, consider rotating the belt so that the buckle falls to the side or back, letting the crystal pattern be the focus. Yet another option is to go with a bridal sash, instead of a belt. There are beautiful pieces available at nice price points (like this piece from ASOS) and, frankly, why should brides have all the fun? ;) I have a bff who always says "life's too short not to have glitter". Preach, girl! The sash option will give you a pretty ribbon detail at the back as well (if you're a "don't do bows" kind of chick, try finishing the knot it with a single loop. Lastly, if you're in need of a creative project, give making your own piece a try. Flat-back Swarovski crystals hot glued on to a belt would give you a completely one-of-a-kind bit of bling.Edit: also just saw this pretty silver collar at zappos.com that would def work for Brie's look!

Omg you all can't imagine how frustrating it is to have all these awesome posts in the works and not have time to finish them/post them for you! Grrrr. Dang busy-ness. #Venting 'k over it. Actually, no...suppressing it...so I can move on to the good stuff :)Renee topped her recent black monochrome look with this paisley capelet blazer (from Nasty Gal, ID by fashionofthedivas.tumblr). This is SUCH a fun piece - a really unusual way to inject some funky fashionality into a simple pairing. A statement jacket is an amazing topper for an otherwise neutral outfit and it's super-fast too: matching separates, holy grail jacket, classic shoes. Done. How long did that take? ;) I'm especially keen on having a few looks like this in my inspiration stash because of mornings like today where I hit "dismiss" instead of "snooze" and oversleep by 45 minutes. (YIKES). Get dressed in 2.25 minutes? Shove over, Usain Bolt and Michael Phelps: I got this. Renee's leather leggings bring in a bit of attitude. Also props for the pale carnation pink lip shade - I love the softness of that! (PS also good to have a make-up-in-an-instant look in your bag of tricks...cuz sometimes "snooze" happens.Sasha's Battleground gear rocked hard! We've seen her do something similar in darker tones with a bit of a space theme, but this bright, clean-colored gear in ice pink, cobalt and lemon is fresh and joyful. I'm also a huge fan of the sprinkling of crystals - glam always gets me ;). The cross-strap at her bodice+ the drizzled crisscross arm wrapping is a fabulous silhouette, very unique and crazy beautiful!The ruffles are coming! ( heads up: #FallTrend) And Lana showed off a cropped top accented with a major one and paired with high (hiiiiiiigh)-waisted wide leg pants for a modern-meets-70's look. The pale pink is feminine, but still has power to it, which she enhances by her sleek and strong pin-straight hairstyle. A metal choker at her neck adds just the right touch of trendy glam. The Ravishing Bride was also rocking more nuptial looks. This lacy confection gives me fairy princess vibes, especially when combined with the glamorous crystal crown and half up-do. For some reason, this makes me think of Mad-Eye Moody telling Harry " Fleur Delacour is as much of a fairy princess as I am" in GoF. Maybe it's because Lana has essentially the same effect on men as Ms. Delacour. Yep, I can definitely see Lana as a veela.

Maria has just a great flair for mixing elements in her outfits! Unexpected twists and combinations are a trademark of her style ...and definitely something we can get inspired by :). Here, she combines a graphic tee with printed shorts -so far, so standard. But then, she throws a fun curve into the look by finishing it with studded white ballet flats. The combo of strong, multi-dimensional print with the softly edgy glitter of studs is super cool! So, go forth to thee closet or thy chest of drawers. Select from said repository one basic tee. Do white, a la Maria, or pull a color from among those in your intended printed shorts. Next, return to repository and remove intended shorts. Floral and other natural prints are classic choices, but don't be dissuaded from reaching further afield. Got camo? Go for it! How about ikat, paisley or toile? While we're on the subject of more simply colored prints, let's think about polka dots and stripes as well :) Complete the look with studded shoes - heels or flats; whichever floats your ducks, it's all good! Add a bit of extra spark by piling on a few bangles in a coordinating color. Need a few more studs in your life? Add a studded belt for a bit more flash. If you're short on studded belts, consider a metallic that matches the color of the studs in your shoes. A belt can be also used to connect an otherwise discordant shoe color to the ensemble. For example, if you wanted to recreate the look above, but the only studded shoes you have are tan, a tan stud belt (alternatively, wrap it around your wrist as a "bracelet") will tie things together flawlessly. (Note: a belt with copper studs will work the same way). Therefore, go forth, Fiercenti and get your studs in print...or imprint your studs ...or stud your imprints...and have some fun with fashion soon! ;) Psssst.. Maria spent the end of July and early August travelling through France and she gave us literally tooooooons of fashion shots from that trip, so stick around for a massive FashionHap of that coming soon!

With wearing gold being in the headlines every day due to the Rio Olympics, I thought it would be fun to take a look at how gold fits into a wardrobe ...even when one isn't able to pull off a full-in-double-back and stick it ;). The ladies of WWE and TNA have definitely managed to find some use for it! And why not? Gold conveys so much: luxury, glamour, fierceness, boldness. It's metallic shimmer enhances nealry any combination, but it's powerful enough in it's own right to provide the statement for an otherwise simple look. Barbie's shining monokini would definitely catch some eyes at the beach, but it's her pointy-toe pumps that win big with me! Shoes are one of my favorite ways to do metallic; they act as a neutral that's not black, bringing brightness and a touch of glam to any outfit. They're easy to blend as well: coordinate with your jewelry, or the color tone of the outfit. Sasha's statement dress is a flawless choice for cocktail hour. The gold really enlivens the black bodice and classic silhouette. Since weddings have been front and center around here lately, if you're wondering about this piece: yes, it could be worn to a night semi-formal or black-tie optional event ...I'd suggest going for a statement necklace that doesn't say "BOSS", though ;). Eva's metallic gold pants really spiked her crop top+skinnies pairing and would be a fab option for a night at the bar. I'm also a fan of her gold-accented sandals; the metallic bar is looking like it's a thing right now and the fierce flash it creates makes a strappy sandal like this super-versatile. Michelle let her glam shine with this sequined tank top. A sequined piece or two is always a good thing for a girl to have in her wardrobe for adding formality to everything from denim to pencil skirts. I especially love how Michelle paired this top with pearl accents - the creamy shimmer plays well against the bright sparkle of the gold. Barbie also showed her love for gold with this elegant metallic embroidered dress. Gold goes through various iterations from the bold, over-the-top sheen of lame to subtler usages, such as this. If you're building a wardrobe, stay with something along these lines - artisanal elegance will remain chic and current long after many envelope-pushing trends have faded. Eve went for the gold in this lace-up-detailed bikini and rocked it - proof that gold works as well in two pieces as in one. If you're mixing solid gold separates in real life, you can soften the blaze of the metallic by topping them with a neutral blazer or cardigan. Conversely, you can bring massive sparks to an all-neutral look by topping them with a gold coat, a la Maryse. It's amazing how many shades can be enhanced by gold: black, navy, red, burgundy, ivory, white, almond and khaki can all handle a shot of golden glimmer quite nicely. If a true "glimmer" is all you're craving, try doing gold Brooke's way: with delicate jewelry. Consider a body chain with right outfit (generally simple canvases that let the detail of the chain stand out), or multiple, layered slim necklaces. Lana proves that gold isn't just for pumps: metallic sandals are definite requirements for summer, and all-season dressy events. Pair them with a gown, pair them with destroyed denim..or get crazy and pair them with a strappy, bandage monokini as you lounge poolside at a five-star resort, sipping champagne and plotting which corner of the universe you're going to take over next :). In many cases, raw, gorgeous gold is best done in controlled brush strokes, rather than with a paint roller, but sometimes, letting your gold flag fly is better yet! Maria always leans toward making a yuuuge statement, so her choice of a full-on sequined mini dress is just what we'd expect from her fashionable Ladyship. Proms, holiday and late night parties and being leader of the KO's division all lend themselves to unadulterated glamour. Then again, maybe you want to play up gold's luxury in your look. For that, take a tip from Taryn and pair it with rich, seductive fur - a vest for spring and fall or a coat for winter. If you're feeling like a rock star, keep following Taryn's lead and add a black fringe necklace or dark, grunge-y hematite pieces and a pair of OTK boots. If you're feeling more "heiress", go for a crystal jewelry and classic sandals. Either way, show some Olympic spirit and go for gold in your fashion!